First-years Carl Reid and Vlad Murad both won singles matches and combined for a huge 9-8 (3) victory over Bates senior Timmy Berg (Bradenton, Fla.) and junior Pierre Planche (Natick, Mass.) at first doubles, which propelled the Mules into a 2-1 lead after doubles play. Bates senior Eric Ruta (Ridgewood, N.J.) and first-year Chris Ellis (Shrewsbury, Mass.) teamed up for Bates' doubles point, an 8-5 win at No. 3 over Luke Martin and Cameron Hillier.

Planche rebounded with a 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles over Sam Bachelder, while first-year Patrick Ordway scored a 6-2, 2-6, (10-7) victory at No. 6 singles over Hillier.

Colby seniors Jack Bryant and Matt Carroll, a four-year doubles team for the Mules, won at the second spot with an 8-3 victory over senior Ben Bogard (Lido Beach, N.Y.) and first-year Patrick Ordway (Falmouth, Maine). Bryant and Carroll helped Colby sweep singles matches at 3 through 5, including Bryant's match-clinching win at No. 4 over Bates first-year Brent Feldman (Waccabuc, N.Y.).

Over the previous six seasons, Bates has won each match between the rivals, each time by a score of 7-2, 8-1 or 9-0. The Mules (3-2, 1-1 NESCAC) have now won three straight.

Bates (3-4, 1-1 NESCAC) next travels to the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., this coming weekend, to face Johns Hopkins on Friday at 4pm, Mary Washington on Saturday at 12pm, and North Carolina Wesleyan on Sunday at 10am.